Some books should come with warnings. Reading Lessons: The Books We Read at School, the Conversations They Spark and Why They Matter needs the following Red Alert on its cover:
- Make sure you don’t have any other things you must do, because they won’t get done once you start this book!
- Don’t expect to have this book in your home again for at least a year, because you will want to lend it to every friend who loves to read.
- Be warned that you will spend a great deal of thinking time on this book once you’ve finished reading it.
I just adored this book, written by a woman who has spent many years teaching English at schools in the UK. Each chapter discusses a different literary work – Browning’s My Last Duchess, Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Dickens’ Great Expectations and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, plus many more. She discusses where the book came in her own personal life, which approaches into its complexities she has used with students, how pupils have reacted to it, and what life lessons can be learned from the literary work.
What Atherton shows so brilliantly in this book is how vitally important English is as a subject. PM Scott Morrison ramped up fees for arts degrees, obviously thinking them of low importance – the man should have read this book before doing that very stupid thing! Atherton shows how novels can create empathy in the young, make them ‘walk in other shoes’ or see a very different life experience from their own, and she explains how fiction and poetry can help a young person make sense of the world and prepare them for adulthood.
I have one complaint about this book – it ended too soon. I longed for a chapter on a Jane Austen novel, so I could see what approaches she’d use there, I wanted her to keep discussing so many favourite books and also introduce me to new ones. She made me think about choices of texts for high schoolers, texts that depict diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, and she made me wish so much that I’d had her as my English teacher when I was at high school.
Anyone who loves books should read Reading Lessons. I cannot recommend it too highly!! Do yourself a favour and read it soon.
What do you think? Let me know in a comment.
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Mary Anne Strachan
Enjoying this book so much. Following her honest journey through revealed experience has given me a new perspective on her chosen texts. I agree too that I would love to have her interpretation of Jane Austen
Susannah Fullerton
I am delighted that you are also enjoying it. I am already keen to reread it, but have lent out my copy to friends.
Libby. L
Just reading it now. Must admit going straight to Macbeth. Having just shared movie of To kill a mockingbird with grandkids will read this next. Liking her style
Susannah Fullerton
It is probably best to read the chapters in order, because you then follow the story of her life and how she came to be a techer of English Lit.
Susannah Fullerton
It doesn’t matter how you get a copy, but don’t miss reading this book. I adored it!
Heather Grant
I have just checked with my local Public Library and there isn’t a copy YET! but I’ve put it on the list. I shall check out our local book shop Bookface …if not, I will order a copy.
Heather Grant
Good Afternoon Susannah,
I have borrowed a copy from our Public Library and after reading My Duchess by. Robert Browning, reading the first chapter, I had to buy a copy….which I have just done. I had two excellent literature teachers at High School but Carol Atherton certainly is an exceptional teacher..
Susannah Fullerton
I am delighted you are also enjoying this wonderful book! Yes, it is a book one must own for dipping in to in the future.